Visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen vowed in Istanbul Sunday to enhance bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.

 

The two ministers told government officials and representatives of business people attending the Turkey-China Business Forum that Chinese and Turkish governments are ready to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

 

Speaking at the forum, Bo pointed out that China never purposely seeks a trade surplus and has tried to reach a balance in foreign trade.

 

"We will draw more products from Turkey to the Chinese market. We will try to buy more Turkish goods. We want to build a more balanced trade," Bo said.

 

Noting that there are great trade complementation and potential for Sino-Turkish trade, Bo stressed that they decided to bring the economic cooperation to a new height with joint efforts from both sides.

 

Bo, underlined that bilateral collaboration, especially in fields such as construction, aviation and tourism, could be further enhanced.

 

He said that China would encourage Chinese businessmen to make investments in Turkey and would welcome Turkish businessmen to make investments in China.

 

According to Bo, China-Turkey trade has witnessed a growth rate of 50 percent last year and nearly 100 percent in the first four months of 2007. He also anticipated greater trade volume with the development of bilateral cooperation.

 

Tuzmen, the Turkish state minister for foreign trade, hailed the fast growth of Turkey-China trade in recent years. He also called on the two sides to enhance exchanges and cooperation.

 

The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on launching a China-Turkey Economic and trade Cooperation Website. Moreover, the two sides also signed a MoU on construction services and another on business contracts.

 

According to official statistics, trade relations between the two countries have been developing smoothly in recent years. Sino-Turkish trade, which was US$1.2 billion in 2000, reached US$8.1 billion last year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2007)